Introduction to Module 4

Welcome to the fourth module of this course. This module examines the current landscape of safer nicotine products (SNPs) and the multifaceted barriers that shape the adoption and implementation of tobacco harm reduction (THR) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the current status of THR in LMICs, including adoption, resistance, and policy environments.
• Identify the main types of safer nicotine products available and assess their affordability, accessibility, and market diversity.
• Analyse key structural barriers, economic, regulatory, and cultural, that limit THR implementation in LMICs.
• Evaluate the influence of global health actors, such as WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, on local THR policy directions.
• Explain how misinformation, stigma, and moral narratives hinder evidence-based policymaking around THR.
• Apply knowledge from case studies to propose context-specific strategies for overcoming THR implementation barriers.